OKC Thunder star Russell Westbrook selected as reserve for 2019 All-Star Game

Inside the NBA announced the 14 All-Star reserves and to no one’s surprise, OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook was selected.

With OKC Thunder forward Paul George already being selected by fans, media and players to start in the 2019 All-Star Game in Charlotte, Thunder Nation awaited news of a teammate addition to the weekend. That came tonight as superstar Russell Westbrook was announced as one of the seven players selected as a reserve.

Coaching staffs around the Association pick the seven reserve players who’ll participate in the 2019 All-Star Game.

The six other players joining Russell Westbrook from the Western Conference are:

• Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors,
• Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs
• Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
• Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
• Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

The clear snubs in the West are no representative from the Utah Jazz (Donovan Mitchell or Rudy Gobert), Tobias Harris of the LA Clippers, and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks (though he’ll play on Friday and is expected to participate in the Skills Challenge Saturday.

Eastern Conference Reserves:

More from Thunderous Intentions

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• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors

This was an even more interesting selection because there isn’t a logical, obvious selection to replace Oladipo as the Pacers player, however, I expected the coaches to give him the nod based on his play prior to the injury. Not to mention it was the right thing for the coaches to do.

There is an outside chance Adam Silver selects Myles Turner as his replacement but more likely the nod will go to a second or third Bucks or Raptors player given their dominance in the East this season. Or Silver could surprise everyone and pick Dwyane Wade.

The funny thing about the East selections was how many players got the nod despite their seeds such as Griffin, Beal, and Vucevic all of which are on teams seeded outside the top eight.

Next up the schoolyard pick:

"“It’s all about love. I’m a lover, not a fighter,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m gonna pick Joel Embiid. If I can pick Joel Embiid and Russell Westbrook on the same team, I’ll do it.”"

Next week the playground selection of the teams will occur live as captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo pick their teams. On a side note, Giannis said (as per SI.com) he’d like to pick both Joel Embiid and Russell Westbrook to force them into being on the same team and presumably to help them get past their feud. Guess Giannis doesn’t know our guy Russ very well.

The actual event will be telecast live on TNT (Inside the NBA) on February 7, 2019. James and Antetokounmpo will first fill out the four players who’ll play beside them as starters (from the eight other starters who were confirmed last week).

After the starters are confirmed, they’ll move on to the pool of 14 reserves who’ll be clarified this evening and select the remainder of their teams. The captains will be able to select players from either conference in the schoolyard type team selection.

Congratulations Russell Westbrook – well deserved!